When Sam and I got married I “inherited” some things from his bachelor pad: Lego, computer parts, Lego, Ansel Adams posters, Lego, etc. You get the picture. I found a spot for most of this, tossed what didn’t meet my standards, and started asking questions as to WHY he had some of this stuff. Knowing Sam as most of you do, the explanations were creative if nothing else. But one object that came to reside with us still has not fully been explained. And while I have adopted it and now call it my own, I am still very curious as to its story.
Can someone help me out with the history of this infamous Sommerer heirloom?
And does it have a name?
Christina Rowland says
Well, for all of my childhood years, that goat hung in the “boys” bedroom upstairs at Grandma’s house. The older cousins told us younger ones that it was the boogy man because it’s eyes would follow you no matter where you were in the room.
Needless to say, it scared the pants off of me. It hung right above the light switch, and I remember we girls would argue about who had to reach in to turn the light on. The doors upstairs were always kept closed, so someone would open the door just a crack and reach in and try to turn on the light without touching the goat head!
Even though we raised sheep on the farm for a long time, that goat head was so scarry!
Lloyd Jr. says
Yes, that goat head is, by far, the scariest thing in the world. I think I was 14 before I would willingly go into that room.
Whoever the older cousin was who told us about the goat should have an honorary degree in child psychology. There was always a place a grandma’s house that you could go that was a child free zone.
Lloyd Jr. says
Hey, it’s Grandpa Sommerer’s birthday. I would not have known that. I wonder what the odds are the two of his great great? grand kids have the same birthday.
Someone should get right on that and figure it out.
Naomi Vetter says
Isn’t that the goat that provided milk for Lolly when she was a baby and couldn’t tolerate cow’s milk? That’s what I always thought it was….it’s a symbol of her survival!
Christina Rowland says
Do female goats have horns?
Aunt Lolly says
Mahlon where are you? Tell us about that goat! I always thought it was old Hariam’s goat. I grew up with it in my bedroom. It didn’t bother me. It was a good old goat!ha
Mahlon says
Well, I don’t know for sure but I think the goat was our herd sire. One of my sponsors, Otto Tickelcamp, decided to become a taxidermist. He took lessons and this goat was one of his first projects. He mounted the goat and gave it to Mom & Dad. Wish I knew how the goat came to his demise but can’t recall ever hearing that. The goat hung in several locations in our house. It’s been there ever since I can remember so it has to be 75 years old or older. On a humid day you can still smell old Billy if you want to sniff him. Naomi it wasn’t the goat that gave Lolly milk but it might have been her husband. Mom and I was looking at the goat one day and I said I’d sure like to have that since Otto was my sponsor. She said it’s yours. When I was ready to claim it some young man was there and said he’d sure like to have that goat ’cause it brought fond memories and I said it’s yours. And thus Billy found a home with Rachel.
Rachel says
Thanks, Uncle Mahlon!!! He has a good home and I will NEVER give him away!
Rachel says
By the way, did this goat have a name? If not, I think he will be named Otto!
Lloyd, Jr. says
I was always told that it was, “The Boogy Man”. I took this to be some terrible, horrible manifestation of pure evil. But it was the 70’s and, looking back on it, might have just menat that he liked to dance.
Mahlon says
Christina, some females have horns. Our goats do…
Julie Baker says
I think I oly see 1 horn in the picture. Did he loose one?